The Risks Behind Vaping

It seems to be the latest fashion for everyone to shout loudly and proudly about how amazing vaping is and how it holds no dangers. And, yes, while vaping may not have nearly as many risks associated with it as smoking cigarettes does, the truth behind vaping is still far from either extremes. When people talk about vaping they immediately tend to compare it to smoking. This comparison is an obvious one as many vapers smoked cigarettes before moving onto e-cigarettes, but this comparison should not cloud people’s judgements on vaping as a whole.

As with any other process that draws substances directly into the lungs, vaping is bound to have an effect on the body. This article aims to provide information on some of the risks that are associated with vaping and aims to examine and compare the connection between smoking and vaping and their common dangers.

How It Affects the Lungs

One of the most well-known facts about smoking cigarettes is that it causes damage to the lungs. Inhaling burning tobacco over a long period of time has been scientifically proven to cause oesophageal cancer time and time again. This leads to lethal lung conditions such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). The smoke of cigarettes can attack the lungs in many different ways. Within cigarettes are over 70 carcinogens and more than a thousand chemicals. Carcinogens bury themselves deep within the tissues of the lungs. Vaping, on the other hand, does not produce any carcinogens that we know of. At least, not in high enough quantities that they can be thought of as serious risks.

Inhaled smoke also causes both operational and structural damage inside of the lungs. The substances within cigarettes, when burned, affect areas of the lungs such as the bronchioles and the cilia which causes reduced function in the lungs. This causes an excess of mucous to build up in a smoker’s lungs.

E-cigarette vapour is, in fact, not smoke so there is no evidence at this moment in time that suggests that inhaling the mixture of vegetable glycerine and propylene glycol causes any long-term damage of any kind. However, the real danger comes from the use of flavourings. The flavouring agents that are found within some e-liquids have been linked to bronchiolitis obliterans, also known as popcorn lung. The chemicals that are said to be the cause of this are acetyl propionyl and diacetyl. It is therefore important to take care when choosing flavoured e-juices.

How It Affects the Heart

Smoking tobacco can have serious negative effects on the heart and circulatory system in general. Smoking usually causes the linings within the arteries to develop plaque. This plaque build-up eventually solidifies and can cause atherosclerosis which is a permanent solidifying of the arteries. This greatly increases the risk of heart attacks as well as strokes as blood cannot properly travel around the body as intended.

Similarly, the carbon monoxide produced when smoking reduces the blood’s overall ability to absorb a sufficient amount of oxygen. This causes the heart to work excessively as more blood is required to carry the same amount of oxygen as before. Smoking also makes blood clots a lot more likely to occur.

When it comes to vaping, e-cigs can temporarily increase the blood pressure and heart rate, but it is highly unlikely that it will damage the heart or circulatory system in such a severe way that smoking does. E-liquid tends to contain none of the very toxic substances that tobacco has. Vapour also contains no carbon monoxide.

Overall, it is very unlikely that vaping will cause any long-term heart or lung damage, but you should still be vigilant regardless, especially of which e-liquid you are using.

Archy is the founder of e-cigreviews.org.uk. He is an ex-smoker and a person that loves everything related to tech world – from vape pens to tesla cars. He’s always testing newest products to give his readers up-to-date reviews.